[Middle English molochite, melochite (the Modern English spelling being influenced by Greek malakhē, mallow), ultimately (partly via Anglo-Norman melochite) from Latin molochītes, an Arabian stone said by Pliny the Elder (perhaps influenced by folk etymology) to be the color of mallows, from Greek molokhītis, perhaps from malakhē, molokhē, mallow, of Semitic origin; see mlḥ in the Appendix of Semitic roots.]